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September
2008 News Release Archives
- Cardinal Rigali Urges Respect for Human Life, Opposition to 'Freedom of Choice’ Act
(08-141)
September 30, 2008
WASHINGTON—In a statement to mark Respect Life Sunday, October 5, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia urged Catholics "to help build a culture in which every human life without exception is respected and defended."
"Let us rededicate ourselves to defending the basic rights of those who are weakest and most marginalized: the poor, the homeless, the innocent unborn, and the frail and elderly who need our respect and our assistance," he said.
- Bishops Urge Congress, Bush Administration to Find Moral Response to Financial Crisis
(08-140)
September 26, 2008
WASHINGTON—Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, urged the Bush Administration and Congress, September 26, to consider the moral aspects of the current financial crisis.
- Philadelphia Priest Named Head of Bishops’ Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis
(08-139)
September 24, 2008
WASHINGTON—Father J. Brian Bransfield, a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has been named executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis.
The appointment will become effective in late Spring. Father Bransfield succeeds Msgr. Daniel Kutys, also a priest of Philadelphia, who is returning to the Archdiocese.
- Pro-Life Chair To Congress: "We Can't Reduce Abortions By Promoting Abortion"
(08-138)
September 22, 2008
WASHINGTON—Writing to all members of Congress on September 19, Cardinal Justin Rigali warned against enactment of the proposed "Freedom of Choice Act" or "FOCA" (S. 1173, H.R. 1964).
"Despite its deceptive title," he wrote, "FOCA would deprive the American people in all 50 states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry. FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars. And FOCA would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government to reduce abortions in our country."
- Bishops Intensify Efforts To Communicate With Catholic Voters; Use Youtube, Facebook, Ipod Giveaway
(08-137)
September 17, 2008
WASHINGTON—As the nation moves closer to the presidential election, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is intensifying efforts to communicate to U.S. Catholics the messages in the bishops’ statement on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.
- USCCB Applauds Proposed Conscience Regulations From HHS
(08-136)
September 16, 2008
WASHINGTON—Proposed government regulations to protect the conscience rights of health care professionals and institutions drew applause September 12, from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
- Catholic Radio Weekly Features Segments On Rwanda, Gay Marriage, John Paul I
(08-135)
September 11, 2008
WASHINGTON—Catholic Radio Weekly, a U.S. bishops’ audio program, will feature speakers on Rwanda, gay marriage and Pope John Paul I the week of September 14. The program can be heard on or downloaded from WWW.CATHOLICRADIOWEEKLY.COM.
- African National Prayer Day Celebrated September 19-21 In Washington
(08-133)
September 11, 2008
WASHINGTON—African Catholics and others will convene September 19-21, in Washington for African National Prayer Day. The annual gathering, which is free and open to the public, serves as an opportunity for worship and reflection on the presence, role and influence of African Catholics in the Church in United States.
- Bishops Ask U.S. To Permit Remittances And Travel To Cuba Given Hurricane Crisis
(08-134)
September 11, 2008
WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops asked the U.S. government to lift its ban on remittances and travel to Cuba, even temporarily, in light of the crisis caused by recent hurricanes.
The request was made in a September 10 letter from Cardinal Francis George, OMI, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to President George Bush. The letter follows.
- Bride-To-Be Blogs On Bishops' Marriage
(08-132)
September 10, 2008
WASHINGTON—Momentous and minute moments mark the road to marriage, according to a blog on the U.S. Bishops’ www.ForYourMarriage.org site. The latest addition to the popular site that includes marriage tips and other helps for those married and planning to marry is "Sarah’s Blog." It recounts musings of 22-year-old Sarah as she prepares to marry Daniel, also 22, next May.
- Bishops To Take Up Abortion And Politics At November Assembly
(08-131)
September 10, 2008
WASHINGTON—The Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said the full body of U.S. bishops will discuss the practical and pastoral implications of political support for abortion during their annual assembly, November 10-13, in Baltimore.
- Concerned Over Effects On Families, Communities, Bishops Urge President Bush, Homeland Security To Drop Raids
(08-130)
September 10, 2008
WASHINGTON— Speaking on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop John C. Wester, chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Migration, urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and President Bush to reexamine the use of worksite enforcement raids as an immigration enforcement tool.
- Bishops Respond To Senator Biden's Statements Regarding Church Teaching On Abortion
(08-129)
September 9, 2008
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman, U.S. Bishops Committee on Doctrine, issued the following statement:
Recently we had a duty to clarify the Catholic Church’s constant teaching against abortion, to correct misrepresentations of that teaching by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on "Meet the Press" (see www.usccb.org/prolife/whatsnew.shtml). On September 7, again on "Meet the Press," Senator Joseph Biden made some statements about that teaching that also deserve a response.
- Bishops Ask Homeland Security, President Bush To Abandon Use Of Worksite Enforcement Raids
(08-128)
September 9, 2008
WASHINGTON—Concerned about the high human cost of immigration raids the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and President Bush to reexamine the use of worksite enforcement raids as an immigration enforcement tool. "The humanitarian costs of these raids are immeasurable and unacceptable in a civilized society," said Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration.
- Bishops' Pro-Life Office Debuts Stem Cell Research, Abortion Ads
(08-127)
September 5, 2008
WASHINGTON--The Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is offering dioceses and others print ads on stem cell research and abortion.
- Quinceañera Ritual Book To Be Released
(08-126)
September 4, 2008
WASHINGTON—The approved Order for the Blessing on the Fifteenth Birthday, the quinceañera ritual, will be published September 19. Communities can celebrate this bilingual ritual both within and outside of Mass.
- Church Increasingly Responsive To Domestic Violence, Says Survey
(08-125)
September 4, 2008
WASHINGTON—Catholic dioceses are increasingly responsive to the reality of domestic violence, according to survey results released in time for the annual observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
- Orthodox Jewish, Catholic Leaders Urge That Marriage Remain Defined As Between Man And Woman
(08-124)
September 4, 2008
WASHINGTON—Orthodox Jewish and Catholic leaders decried the promotion of same-sex unions as "marriage" and said the tradition understanding of marriage is "of critical importance to the furtherance of a fundamental societal interest."
- Church Teaching Against Abortion Constant Through Centuries, Says New Resource
(08-123)
September 3, 2008
WASHINGTON— To help end confusion caused by recent misrepresentations of Catholic Church teaching on abortion, the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities has issued a two-page fact sheet called "Respect for Unborn Human Life: The Church’s Constant Teaching."
- Respect Life Program Packet For 2008-09 Now Available
(08-122)
September 2, 2008
WASHINGTON—The 2008-09 Respect Life Program is now available in preparation for Respect Life Sunday, October 5. This year’s theme —"Hope and Trust in Life!"— comes from Pope Benedict XVI’s homily last December 31, in which he described a lack of hope and trust in life as "the 'obscure’ evil of modern Western society."
- Catholic Dioceses Gear Up For November Election By Promoting Conscience Formation, Political Participation
(08-121)
September 2, 2008
WASHINGTON—As the November election approaches, Catholic dioceses around the country are stepping up efforts to help Catholics understand Church social teaching and get them out to vote with a well-formed conscience.
Efforts revolve around Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops’ document approved last November, and related materials that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has made available.
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